Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, Mar 22: Chief Secretary, B B Vyas today reviewed the progress of implementation of the key PMDP projects in the road and tourism sectors with the concerned Administrative Secretaries.
Chief Secretary noted with satisfaction the progress achieved in the resolution of all land acquisition and forest clearance issues in the Jammu-Srinagar National Highway project. It was informed that the entire designated length of 326 km has been awarded and 4-lanning work has been completed in 177 km length, while the project in 149 km length is under implementation.
In regard to the Srinagar and Jammu Ring Road projects, it was informed that land acquisition proceedings stand completed in its entirety. While land in Jammu has already been handed over to the NHAI, the process of handing over 90% land in Srinagar ring road project will be completed in a week.
Chief Secretary asked DCs to submit Utilization Certificates (UCs) of the disbursed compensation amount on account of land acquisition to the NHAI so that balance compensation amount is released to them. He asked NHAI to ensure that the pending compensation amount on account of land acquisition is released to the DCs immediately. It was informed that so far compensation amount to the tune of Rs 180 crore in Jammu and Rs 122 crore in Srinagar has been disbursed among the land owners.
The progress of land acquisition and forest clearance issues was also reviewed in respect of various tourism infrastructure projects including Gulmarg-Baramulla-Kupwara-Leh, Mantalai-Sudhmahadev-Patnitop, Jammu-Rajouri-Shopian–Pulwama and Anantnag-Pahalgam-Kishtwar-Ranjit Sagar Dam tourism circuits.
Chief Secretary urged Administrative Secretaries to make concerted efforts towards ensuring that all projects under PMDP are completed within the implementation time period of the package.
Principal Secretary to Chief Minister, Administrative Secret-aries of the departments of Revenue, PW(R&B), Forest, Tourism, Divisional Commiss-ioner, Jammu, Director NHAI, J&K, Deputy Commissioner, Jammu, representative of the Archeological Survey of India (ASI) and other senior officers were present in the meeting.
Divisional Commissioner, Kashmir, Deputy Commissi-oners of Budgam, Pulwama, Srinagar, Baramulla, Bandipora, Ganderbal, Ramban, Reasi and Udhampur districts participated via video conferencing.